THE TERMS REJECTED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1354, 3 February 1912, Page 5

THE TERMS REJECTED.

ISSUES NARROWED DOWN. MEN REJECT MAIN CLAUSE. Members of the City Council once again abandoned all other vocations yesterday in order to consider uninterruptedly the problems and incidental worries of a tramway strike. The council assembled at. 10 a.m., and received an early visit from Mr. I'. JluU.v (Conciliation Commissioner). At 10.50 a.m. a deputation arrived from the strikers. Its members were: Messrs. 1). JJalton (president of the Tramways Union), AV. T. Young (chairman of the Strike Committee), I', llickey, and M. J. lieardon. After the deputation had conferred with the council for half an hour, tho council adjourned, having first set up a sub-committee to confer with the strikers' delegates. The sub-committeo consisted of Mr. .J. Smith (Acting-Mayor), and Councillors A. H, Atkinson, CI. ShirtcLiife, li. Fletcher, and JJ. M'i'.aren. Tho sub-committce and the deputation from the uion at onco met in conference, and their sitting lasted until Uio afternoon.

All sorts of stories and reports wero circulated during the afternoon, but they were superseded by definite information before tho night was out. _ i Shortly before 8 p.m. a period of quiet at the Town Hall gave place to active bustle. The tramwaymen had been summoned to attend a meeting in the Concert Chamber in order that tho terms of settlement offered by tlio council migut be read to them and considered. _ The meeting commenced at about ten minutes past the hoar, behind closed doors, and lasted for about an hour and a, half. It quickly became known that tho council's terms "would not be accepted, and that no Fettlembnt would be arrived at that evenThe roaring chcers that wero given at intervals wero the men's response to speeches by their leaders. Jlr. W. T. Young, chairman of the Strike Committee,, was interviewed -immediately after the meeting." His opening words wero: "Absolutely no settlement, ily a unanimous vote, all standing, tho men rejected No. 1 (the proposal regarding tho transfer of Inspector Fuller). Mr. Yonng then mado the following statement to the press:—

"As a result of negotiations to-day we came to an understanding regarding the transference of Inspector Fuller, and tho compact arrived at, which was subsequently adopted by the Strike Committee, was that Inspector Fuller bo transferred to a branch of the service where he would not eomo into contact with members' of the Tramways Union. We, however, reluctantly agreed to that, because it did not carry with it the iemoval of this man from the tramway service. Subsequently, we .returned- to tho Town Hall and met the Acting-Mayor and three other councillors, inclnding Mr-. Sliirtcliffo and we were tinder tho impression that everything had been settled satisfactorily. I conveyed to these gentleman the conclusion of tho Striko Committee, nnd told them that'we wero very reluctant to do so, but that we would submit to his (Inspector Fuller's)' transference to a branch of the service where he would not come into contact with members cf the union.

"The Town Clerk departed to lick the agreement into shape for signature and this is what he brought us back:— " 'That Inspector Fuller be transferred, at his own request, to another branch of the service. "Wo objected to this and briefly disenssed the clause with tlio councillors on the sub-committee. Wo tokl them that it .was not in accordance with the arrangement that we had arrived at and that wo did not seo our way clear to accept it. It was pointed out by them that number one (tho above clause) was a resolution of the council, and that they could not alter it At the same time they also said that this was a resolution of tho council:—-

"With regard to clause one of this agreement, the following resolution has been passed by the City Council:— " 'That it be an instruction to the

electrical engineer, 011 settlement of tho dispute, to havo Inspector Fuller placed in a position where ho will not have any dealings with members of the Tramways Union.'

"We wanted them," continued Mr. Young, "to incorporate that in tho agreement. Their argument was that it was not necessary to do so, that it was .already on tho minute-book of tho City Council, and would bo ndhored to. It was pointed out, by ourselves, that tho same argument applied to number one, myl that if that was the way in which Ihe agreement was going to bo fixed up, then, so long as resolutions wero on the minute-book of tho City Council, it was not necessary to. sign an agreement at nil. However, the representatives of the Strike Committeo rejected it.

"At 7.30 there was a meeting of the Strike Committee, and tliey rejected it. To-night it lias been put before a meeting of members of the Tramways Union, and absolutely rejected, unanimously, with cheers, all members standing.

"We are determined not to nccept tho clauso under any consideration whatsoever, and it is our opinion that a broach of faith—whether intentional or otherwise —has been committed. Therefore, for the time being, there is no settlement, and all negotiations nre oIT. And now," said Mr. Young, rounding off this branch of his statement, "wo are going to havo a game of crickot." Clause 2 in the statement of terms offered by tho council reads as follows:— "That the council give a written undertaking to indemnify against possibl legal prosecution, any persons involved in the tramways dispute"

In regard to this, Mr. Young said: "AYhen tho City Council pointed out lo us that it was beyond their jurisdiction, and that, if they gave such a guarantee, they would have to pay tho money out nf then- own pockcts, because tho public auditor would not pas.", it, nflcr discussing the matter with them—and although it was one of the vitnl issues involved—as reasonable men we saw our way clear to allow that to be struck out altogether. With regard lo Clause 3:— "That the council guarantee Hint, on resumption of work, the men involved in this (rouble shall not be .subjected to victimisation, but shall continue in their employment as if no cessation of work bad occurred." Mr. Young said: "This, with one or two alterations in tho wording which do not in iiuy way ali'ect the principle involved was agreed to by the City Council. Tho clause was submitted to the meeting of men here to-night, and unanimously adopted by this meeting. "All wo'wuut now ia a claupa to thia effect, which ia in kqojiint: with Ou) w-

rangement arrived at with tho City Council representatives: " "That Inspector Fuller be transfoi'ro<l In a branch of tho service wJ'to hi' will not come into contact with mcmbei'3 of tho Tramways Union.' "When the City Council agree to that, and embody it in an agreement signed by both parties, this dispute is over; the cars can bo running in loss than half an hour. That is all that is between us." Answering a question, Mr. young said tJi.it, inu ii,en nad never even intended to demand wages for the timo during which they were out on strike. "They want to foist upon us what was in the minute book," he added, "which would lead the public to believe that Fullor has been transferred at his own request. Wo want the public to understand that he has been transferred at our request."

Mr. Young also stated that it had been decided to convcno a mass meeting ot tho public at the .Basin Reserve at .'I p.m. on Sunday. Tho position wonld then bo outlined by the strike loaders to the general public.